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Commencement Info!

by Betsy Chapman

In this Issue:

  • Commencement email and info for P’23s
  • Community Safety Advisory: police presence at Graylyn

Today is largely going to be for our P’23s about Commencement, but I am also sharing a Community Safety Advisory that went out this morning (no threat to Wake Forest or the surrounding community).

Commencement email and info for P’23s

Our Commencement office sent an email yesterday to all undergraduate students who have registered and are on track to graduate this May, to let them know that ticket registration is now open (a message went to eligible families as well). Here are some of the main details you should know:

Baccalaureate – 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 14 in Wait Chapel
  • Baccalaureate is a broadly ecumenical service that is akin to a Sunday morning worship service. 
  • There is no individual recognition of graduates; students sit together as a class (rather than sitting with their families).
  • Each student can request 2 tickets for Baccalaureate. Students do not need a ticket to Baccalaureate if they march in the processional in cap and gown. 
  • Having a ticket to Baccalaureate does not guarantee admittance to Wait Chapel. The chapel has about 2,300 seats, and some of those will be used by the graduates themselves as well as the faculty. Families wishing to attend Baccalaureate form a line outside the Chapel and will be admitted first come, first served until the chapel is filled. Weather permitting, we pipe the Baccalaureate service audio out to the Quad. (More details to come closer to May).
Commencement – 9 a.m. on Monday, May 15 on Hearn Plaza (aka the Quad)
  • Each student can request 8 tickets for Commencement. Again, students do not need a ticket if they are processing with their class. If you have a younger student at Wake, they can enter Commencement by showing their WFU ID; they do not need a ticket.
  • There will be a variety of speakers and remarks, and Commencement does have individual recognition of undergraduate students by name as they walk across the Commencement stage. Graduate students are recognized at their hooding ceremonies the prior weekend, but are welcome to attend and process in the Monday ceremony.
  • It is a 3+ hour ceremony and because it is outdoors, you will want to play close attention to the weather conditions and plan your wardrobe accordingly (including sunscreen).
  • Commencement will be livestreamed so that families unable to come to campus can watch the ceremony. Temperature controlled seating is also available with a live stream in Wait Chapel.
Ticket ordering
  • Students must order their Commencement tickets themselves.
  • Students will need to pick up their tickets in person (which takes place Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. of Commencement weekend). Students will then pass out the tickets to their family, friends, and loved ones as they choose. 
  • We regret that due to space limitations, we cannot offer additional guest tickets; students can work with their friends and classmates who do not need their full allotment of tickets if they need extras.
  • Students will receive detailed instructions about ticket pick up closer to May. Please note the fulfillment of ticket requests are contingent upon full clearance to graduate, which is determined by the Office of the University Registrar.
Ordering caps and gowns and more
  • Students should visit this webpage for information about ordering their caps and gowns.
  • Encourage your student to order their Commencement regalia as soon as possible. Shipping can take up to four weeks, and orders ship in the order they are received. A limited number of caps and gowns will be available for purchase at the Bookstore; note that limited sizes will be stocked.
Additional Commencement weekend schedule notes
  • You can see the Commencement schedule here. 
  • We anticipate there could be additional departmental receptions or other events added, so check the schedule in the coming weeks for any additions.
  • If you are the parent or loved one of a graduate or professional school student, please note this important change to the schedule: this year we will hold a hooding and commencement ceremony for your student’s school or program; this will be where their degree is formally conferred (i.e., that is when they officially graduate). While students from graduate and professional schools are absolutely invited to attend the Monday Commencement ceremony, they will no longer have their degrees conferred there, as it will be done at their hooding and commencement ceremony instead.  

We will have a lot more info about Commencement as we get closer to May – so know this is not the only time you will hear from me about Commencement. This is just to get you and your family started!

Community Safety Advisory: police presence at Graylyn

This morning, campus received a message about a visible police presence in front of Graylyn. Police were responding to an overnight incident. While few details were available at the time of the alert, the message stated there was no threat to Wake Forest or the surrounding community.

For any of our Deacs who are leaving early for Spring Break, we wish them safe travels. For those staying on campus, we encourage you to plan ahead and know the hours of operation for campus dining and other services.

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